Nine-year-old Alayna Adams threw the ceremonial first pitch of the game at Tropicana Field and was reunited with her Army dad, Lt. Colonel Will Adams, who had been serving in Afghanistan for the past year.

Unbeknownst to his family, Adams dressed in catcher's gear and was behind home plate to catch his daughter's pitch.

When Alayna began to walk away after bouncing the ball to the catcher, Adams took off the catcher's mask.

It took only a split second for Alayna to recognize her dad, and, overwhelmed with happiness, she raced to the home plate and lept into his arms.

Copyright 2013 by ClickOrlando.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.